Cadillac is changing the Optiq EV’s powertrains for 2026, adding a new RWD base model and giving the AWD version more power. When it was introduced with just one motor, the RWD Optiq had 315 horsepower; now, it boasts 440 horsepower. There is also an Optiq-V that will only be ready in 2026 and has 519 horsepower. For the next model year, there will be more versions of this small luxury SUV with more horsepower. These will be added to the Cadillac Optiq-V speed edition, which was the big news in 2026. Every 2026 Optiq model has a new engine configuration. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain has about 50% more power than before, and a new base model with a single motor that works better than the dual-motor system from the previous year has been added. The base Optiq now has an electric motor with 315 horsepower that drives the back wheels. Before, there was only a dual-motor version with 300 horsepower. New layout for the 2026 Optiq AWD, which has 440 horsepower from its front and back electric motors. The Optiq-V, which was already shown off, has 519 horsepower from two motors and is the most powerful type in the line. Cadillac has also made the Optiq’s range predictions better, but the EPA’s numbers are still not out. The company says that the base model with RWD can go 300 miles, and the AWD model with two motors can go 280 miles. Estimates show that the Optiq-V can go 275 miles without needing to be charged. The base model from last year cost more than the new RWD version, which starts at $52,395. Other than the Optiq-V, which has AWD as standard, other model levels need to pay an extra $3500 to get AWD.
